Indianapolis, Indiana – The Indianapolis Zoo’s staff prepares to provide the animals in their exhibits with enhanced care.
The snowstorm during Christmas weekend forced the zoo to close for a few days.
To ensure their protection, several of the animals were brought inside. Others, such as the Arctic fox, Amur tiger, Alaskan brown bear, and California sea lion, are adapted to colder climes and flourish there.
The red pandas at the zoo receive particular attention from Jenessa Taylor, a trainee in the life sciences.
She said, “They do well in the winter months.”
Red pandas’ metabolisms are slowed, according to Red Panda Network, so they don’t need to hibernate.
She converses with Kiak and Mi-kal, the two brown bears, as well. They are currently hibernating, she claimed.
“That means they sleep a lot,” explained Taylor. “We also add hay in their dens to help keep them warm.”
The temperature of the pools in the alligator and crocodile exhibits is controlled to aid in the adaptation of these cold-blooded creatures.
Sunday through Thursday, the Indianapolis Zoo is open from noon to 9 p.m. and from 12 to 10 p.m. Saturday and Friday. On New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day, they will be closed.